No Money From Province For Local Collector Roads

Regional Councillors showed their frustration with the province yesterday after getting word the provincial government won’t cost-share roadwork under a fund set aside for small communities.

If the list of collector roads had been approved, the municipality would have rebuilt sections of Ferry Street in Sydney, Royal Avenue and Commercial Street in Dominion, Main Street in Glace Bay and High Street in North Sydney.

However, the province say it won’t do more cost-sharing on that class of road for at least two years, because it says the number of applications from other municipalities exceeded the funds available.

That prompted an angry reaction from many councillors at yesterday’s meeting.

In the end, Council voted to do scaled-back work with money it set aside on Gibbon Street in New Waterford, Charlotte Street in Sydney and Queen Street in Sydney Mines.

Councillors also voted to ask for a meeting with Liberal government officials and MLAs to appeal for some roadwork for next year.